AMERICA FIRST POLICY INSTITUTE

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What is America First Policy Institute?

The America First Policy Institute (AFPI) is a nonprofit think tank founded in 2021 to advance Donald Trump’s policy agenda.  It is led by President and CEO Brooke Rollins, former acting director of the U.S. Domestic Policy Council under Trump, and Vice Chair Larry Kudlow, Trump’s former National Economic Council director. Linda McMahon, Trump’s former SBA Administrator and chair of the pro-Trump Super PAC America First Action, serves as AFPI’s chairperson. Politico has described this group as a “White House in waiting”, and Trump’s cabinet picks so far have more direct links to the AFPI than any other organization, including the Heritage Foundation.

Who are important key players in the America First Policy Institute that are part of Trump's cabinet during his second term?

Many key players in the America First Policy Institute currently serve in the second Trump administration. They include:

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Pam Bondi

U.S. Attorney General

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Doug Collins

Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs

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Kevin Hassett

Director of the National Economic Council

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Linda McMahon

Secretary of the Department of Education

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Kash Patel

Director of the FBI

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John Ratcliffe

Director of the CIA

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Brooke Rollins

Secretary of the Department of Agriculture

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Scott Turner

Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development

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Matthew Whitaker

Ambassador to NATO

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Lee Zeldin

Secretary of the Environmental Protection Agency

 

What is in the America First Policy Institute Policy Book?

According to New York Times reporter Ken Bensinger, key proposals from the AFPI’s policy book, The America First Agenda, include removing most civil service protections for federal employees, enabling summary dismissals without the right to appeal; increasing domestic oil and gas production by opening additional federal lands for expedited drilling and resuming Keystone pipeline construction; and implementing restrictions on abortion such as mandatory ultrasounds, waiting periods, and eliminating federal funding for organizations like Planned Parenthood. The agenda also opposes red flag gun laws and supports nationwide concealed carry permit reciprocity, allowing permits issued in one state to be valid in all 50. Additional proposals include imposing tariffs on imports, cutting corporate taxes, defending religious liberty, rolling back climate change efforts including withdrawing from the Paris Agreement, opposing transgender rights, adding work requirements to Medicaid, and reducing U.S. involvement in international conflicts. On immigration, it advocates completing the U.S.-Mexico border wall, increasing border enforcement funding, and ending legal immigration programs such as family-based visas and the diversity visa lottery.

Read The America First Transition Project

How is America First Different From Project 2025?

The America First agenda is generally less extreme than Project 2025, which calls for a major restructuring of the executive branch, including eliminating agencies like the Departments of Education and Homeland Security. However, both share similar conservative values, emphasizing support for "nuclear families" and encouraging two-parent households. They also both advocate for Trump to reshape the federal workforce—favoring political appointees over career civil servants. America First specifically supports allowing all government employees to be fired “at-will” and limiting regulation-making to political appointees.